fokschler



Dec, 2, 1924.

W. U. FORSCHLER ELECTRICAL FIXTURE Filed April 8, 2 Sheets-Sheet l accomu Dec. 2, 19.24.

ELECTRICAL FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Shes l Filed April 8, 1922 M l ull! Wfl ,.,wmmm

Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES WALTER U. FORSCHLER, O'F NORWICH, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRICAL FIXTURE.

Application led April 8, 1922. Serial No. 550,856.

To a-ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, WALTER U. Fonscnnnn, -a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwich, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Fixtures, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to electrical fixtures and the primary object of the invention is to provide novel means for connecting a receptacle and a light fixture to a single outlet box, so that electrical appliances, such as sad irons, curling irons and the like can be conveniently attached in place without the necessity of providing a base board or wall receptacle. v

The use of electrical appliances requires their attachment to wall receptacles, base board receptacles or to light fixture sockets. Owing to the additional cost of providing base board or wall receptacles, ordinary houses are provided only at a few advantageous places with the said base board or wall receptacles. When the electric appliances are connected to light sockets, the use of the light is precluded unless a double socket is provided, and the attachment of appliances to an ordinary light socket presents a clumsy and unsightly appearance.

It is therefore another prime object of the invention to provide a neat and attractive member for connection with an ordinary outlet box embodying novel means for supporting any type of electric light fixture and a receptacle for the plug of an electric appliance, the member being rotatably connected with the outlet box so that the receptacle can be moved to various positions in relation to the box.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an insulator ring for connection with the outlet box, the ring having means for receiving various sizes of canopies of a light fixture, and a receptacle for receiving the plug of an electric appliance,

the receptacle being connected with the wires extending into the outlet box.

A further object of the invention is to pro-- light fixture supported by the box and i1- sulator ring.

A still further object 0f the invention is to provide an improved electric fixture of the above character, which will be durable and eficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of the improved combined electric fixture.

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section through the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the improved combined electric fixture showing the same connected with an outlet box and having an electric light fixture and electric appliance plug provided therewith, the outlet box being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a detail rear elevation of the socket portion of the receptacle of the improved electric fixture.

Figure 5 is a detail transverse section through the receptacle portion of the improved fixture taken on the line 5-5 of F igure l.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through the lower portion of the fixture, showing the ways therethrough provided for the feed wires for the electric appliance receptacle.

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of the blank for one of the contacts of the receptacle.

Figure 8 is a detail elevation of one of the contacts of the receptacle.

Figure 9 is a section through the same taken on the line 9 9 of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the 'letter A generally indicates the improved electric fixture; B, an outlet box with which it is associated; C an electric light fixture; and D a plug for association with the electric appliance.

The improved fixture A is adapted to be placed Hush up against a wall or other support E and in abutting engagement with the outer face vof the outlet box B as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.;

The outlet box B is of the usual or any preferred construction,.andincludes the crdinary cast iron body'lOprovided with the inwardly extending apertured ears 11 for receiving the usual fastening screws of al light fixture or the face plateof a switch box. The central portion of the body 10 also supports the usual U-shaped bracket 12 having, the outwardly extendinuf feet 13 for receiving the bolts 14. for hol-ding a light fixture C in position. The body 10 of course, supports-the usual conduits 15 for t-he electric feed Wires 16.

Thelighting fixture C may be of the ordinary or any preferredv character and includes the ordinary canopy 17 having the annular base flange 18. The plug D for the electric appliance which is to be connected with the receptacle forming a part of theV erred type, and' fixture A can be oflanyvprc asshoyvn includes the knife contacts 19 carried .by the body 20. The electric cord for the electric appliance as indicated by the numeral 21. is of-course,.connected in the. ordinary manner with the knife contacts 19.

They improved electric fixture A is preferably formed of insulatiomsuch as porcelain, fiber or the like, and includes the annular body 22, the inner periphery of which isi-abbeted as at 23 to provide an annular shoulder 24,'thepurpose of which will be hereinafter moreV fully described. The outer face of the annular body 22 is provided with plurality' of lconcentrically disposed annular grooves 25,` in which is adapted to fit the base flange 18 of the canopy 17 forming apart of the electricl fixture C. It can be seen that by providing a plurality of the annular grooves 25, canopies of differentsizescan be readily associated with the improved fixture. The walls of the grooves serve as convenient means for supporting the canopy of the fixture.

The body 22 at one pointis provided with radially extending head30, which forms a part of the outlet receptacle. This head 30 is provided with a circular recess 31, for the reception ofthe body portion 32 ofthe outletreceptacle. The body portion 32 of the outlet receptacle is formed separate from the head 30, so as to facilitate the connection of the electric wires 33 therewith, which are ex tended through ways 34 formed in the annularbody v22 andthe head 30 provided for that purpose. These ways 34, of course, communicate with the circular recess The inner wall of the recess 31 is provided with integral lugs 35 disposed at diametrically op posite points, and thesev lugs are provided with openings 36 for the reception of retain- 35 andthe body isprovided withlfways 39 ing bolts 37, utilized for holding the body 32 of the receptacle in position in the recess.

The body 32 of the receptacle has its inner face notchedas at 38 for receivingthelugs whichK are adapted to align with the openings or ways 36Afor the reception of the bolts 37. The body 32 of the receptacle is provided with diametrically aligned T-shaped ways 40, which are adapted to receive contact blades 19..-of a. plugV 20. These ways 40 are formed T-shaped so that if the blades of a plug are diametrically alignedfor ifithey are disposed inspacedparallel relation, they can bel associated with `the body 32. The contacts 41iof the.V receptacle are disposedwithin the Tshaped openingsv40, andare riveted or `otherwise secured to face plates 42, which can befsecured to the inner surface of the body 32 by fastening elements, such as screws 43. The-contacts 41 are ofa novel construction and are preferably formed of asingle blank of metal as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. This kblank as shown includes the T-shaped body 45, having .l the arms 46, 47 and 48 which are adapted to be bent at right anglesnto a base portion49 of the blank. Theouter terminalsof the arms46, 4,7,and1 4S can be bent back upon tl1emselves.toform resilient tongues 49 for frictionally engaging the knife contacts 19 of a plug20. It is` obvious that the arms 46, 47 and 48 owing to tlieirpeculiar arrangement will frictionally engage the knife contacts19 of a plug irrespective ofwhether these contactsY are arranged invdiametric alignment or whether they are disposed in spaced parallel relation.

In order to retanthe fixture A infposition in; relation to the outlet box l5, a retainingvring 50 isprovided. This ring 50 can 105 be formed of metal if so desired, and is adapted to fit upon the shoulder 24 formed lby the rabbeted portion 23. This ringis provided at diametrically opposite .points with inwardly extending apertured ears' 51 which 11o are adapted tov align with the ears 11 formed on the `wall's'of the body 10 ofthe outlet box B and the aligned ears 51 and 11 are adapted to receive retaining bolt-S52 as clearly shown i in Figures 1 and 2.of the drawings. The 115 ring Y50 and the bolts .52 constitute Aan eiicient means for holding the fixture A in position, and itcan be seen that the kfixture A. canbe rotated in relation. tothe boxB and electric light fixture C withouty disturbing either one of the same when it is desired to position the heads 30 .at different points around the box B. As shown the head .30 is disposed Yin the lowerportion of the box.

lVhen the outletireceptacle is -not.in..\use, an ornamentalcap can beassoeiated-.therewitlr if ,so ydesired,1in `order to imparta pleasing. and `attractive appearance. toy the fixture.

Itcan be seen thatwhen itis desired to` attach au electric appliance in position', it 130 is merely necessary `to place the plug thereof and force the knife contacts into the openings 40 provided for that purpose.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that an improved electric fixture has been provided which will effectively permit an electric light fixture and outlet receptacle to be attached to the single outlet box.

Changes in details may be made. without departing from the spirit or scope ef this invention; but,

l claim:

l. The combination with an outlet box and electric light fixture, of a support for the fixture including a body formed of insulation arranged to overlie the outlet box and an outlet receptacle comprising a body arranged to overlie the body, means formed in the body for supporting the electric light fixture, and a head formed on the body having contacts associated therewith for engaging with thekcontacts of a plug and electric appliance.

2. The combination with an outlet box, an electric light fixture, and a plug of an electric appliance, of a fixture including an annular' body of insulation arranged to overlie the outlet box, means for securing the body to the outlet box, means formed on the body for receiving the electric light fixture, means for securing the fixture to the box, a head carried by the body, ways formed in the body and head for receiving the electric light wires from the outlet box, and contacts associated with the head and connected with the electric wires for frictionally engaging the contacts of the plug of the electric appliance when the plug is associated with said head.

3. The combination with an outlet box including a supporting bracket and attaching ears, an electric light fixture, and a plug of an electric appliance, of a fixture associated with the plug and lighting fixture including an annular body of insulation having a rabbeted portion forming a shoulder, a supporting ring arranged to engage the shoulder having ears arranged to align with the attaching ears of the outlet box, retaining bolts extended through the ears, the ring permitting rotation of the annular body, means formed on the outer surface of the body for receiving an electric light fixture, a head formed on the body, an outlet receptacle engaged with said head, contacts associated with said outlet receptacle, the body and head having ways extended therethrough for receiving the feed wires from the outlet box, the contacts being adapted to engage the contacts of the plug when the plug is associated with the outlet receptacle.

4. The combination with an outlet box, an electric light fixtureincluding a canopy, having an annular base flange, and plug of an electric appliance, of an electric fixture including an annular body of insulation arranged to surround the outlet box, means for rotatably securing the annular body to the outlet box, the outer face of the annular body having grooves formed therein for the reception of the base flange of the canopy of the electric light fixture, and al head formed on the annular body for the reception of the plug of the electric appliance.

5. As a new article of manufacture, an electric light fixture comprising an annular body of insulation having concentric grooves formed in the outer face thereof, the inner peripher f of the body being rabbeted to provide a shoulder, a radially extending head formed on the body having a recess therein, an outlet receptacle having contacts therein and openings for the reception of contacts of a plug of an electric appliance, the head and body having ways formed therein for the reception of electric feed wires.

6. As a new article of manufacture, an electric fixture including a body of insulation having an opening therethrough, the outer face of the body having grooves formed therein, a radially extending head formedA on the body having a recess therein,

'the inner wall of the recess provided with attaching lugs, a body fitted in the recess having notches arranged to receive the lugs, clamping elements extending through the body and lugs, the body having T-shaped openings therethrough, and contacts arranged in said openings, the first and second mentioned bodies having ways for electric Wires formed therein.

7. AS a new article of manufacture, an electric fixture including an annular body of insulation for supporting electric light fixtures, a head formed on the body of insulation for the reception of a. plug and electric light fixture, the head having recesses therein of a T-shape, contacts disposed in said recesses including a plurality of contact arms arranged at right angles to each other, and inwardly extending resilient tongues formed on the outer ends of said arms.

WALTER U. FORSCHLER. 

